Lavac toilet: can I use any old bilge pump?

[Kelpie]

The pump on my Lavac seems to have developed a leak. Whilst it may turn out to be repairable, I'm inclined to fit a new replacement and keep the old one as a spare, giving me time to fix it.

Question is, do I have to source the exact same pump, or will any old diaphragm type manual bilge pump of sufficient capacity do the job?

 

[LittleSister]

Firstly, normally a leak from such a pump is easily cured with a new service kit. That's probably easier than disconnecting the pump from its pipes and mountings.

Lavacs used to be supplied with (IIRC) a Henderson Mk 5 pump. I thought I'd read they were no longer available, and another brand was supplied with new Lavacs, but I've just checked and the 'Whale/Henderson' Mk5 is still currently widely available at around £75, as are service kits around £30.

When I had Lavac I carried a service kit - cheaper and less bulky/heavy than a whole spare pump. Had to use (and replace) the service kit once in 10 years.

You are not restricted to that brand, but you do need that kind of capacity and ability to cope with solids: check that any pump you buy says it is suitable for 'holding tank' pump out (it probably won't mention pumping toilets themselves).

 

[VicS]

The pump on my Lavac seems to have developed a leak. Whilst it may turn out to be repairable, I'm inclined to fit a new replacement and keep the old one as a spare, giving me time to fix it.

Question is, do I have to source the exact same pump, or will any old diaphragm type manual bilge pump of sufficient capacity do the job?

All parts of the pump area available as spares with the exception of the body although complete new pumps are available

I'd think the sensible way forward would be to identify the problem and fix it if it's fixable ( Even a hole in the body may be fixable with JB-Weld or similar)

Consider an alternative pump if the old one is beyond repair and a suitable alternative is a lot cheaper

 

[Boathook]

If it is a proper Henderson pump and its leaking on the seals get a service kit. It it is a look alike Henderson pump as supplied by Lavac, bin and replace with a Henderson Mk5. The Henderson is much better quality! I found out the hard way. The pump that came with my Lavac many years ago (and its replacement) ruin a very good boat toilet.

 

[doug748]

If it is a proper Henderson pump and its leaking on the seals get a service kit. It it is a look alike Henderson pump as supplied by Lavac, bin and replace with a Henderson Mk5. The Henderson is much better quality! I found out the hard way. The pump that came with my Lavac many years ago (and its replacement) ruin a very good boat toilet.

Spot on. The faulty pump probably has a simple fault. Do not replace with a new "Henderson" but get hold of the real thing, secondhand. Unless you need to match a new pump to your bilge pump (for common spares, a good idea) then I would stick with the Mk 5, a good item.

One way to tell the old from the new is that older versions had cases nut and bolted together, the inferior ones just have self tappers into the plastic. The diaphragm on my heads has lasted in excess of 25 years, on the new bilge pump it lasted 2.

 

[differentroads]

The whale pumps and service kits aren't cheap but when the pump on my Lavac developed a crack in its body I bought a like for like replacement. Alternatives aren't that much cheaper, Whale quality is good*, and fitting a replacement straight back in without having to change the plumbing saves time and possibly money (have you seen the price of sanitary hose lately!)
I tried to repair the crack in the body of the pump. A fine spray of sewage developed after a month or so which made me a) replace the pump with new and b) spend hours cleaning and repainting the inside of the cupboard that hides the hoses.

*That said, I'm now going to have to check the screws on my pump!